Led by rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals are looking to play spoiler in the season opener against the Chargers.
Even though Los Angeles will be facing a first-year signal-caller, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley knows that he is not to be taken lightly.
Bradley said they’ll have to adjust on the fly on Sunday, but the team thinks they “have a good feel” for what No. 1 overall pick will bring to the table on Sunday.
There’s some familiarity with Bradley and Burrow, as he and Burrow’s dad, Jim, coached together at North Dakota State. He said he has known Joe since he was a kid, and is really excited for the matchup.
Burrow knows that he will be facing a top-10 defense this weekend, and he will be ready for it.
“They’re going to do what they do, but I also anticipate some wrinkles that are going to try to make a rookie quarterback confused, so I’m anticipating some things he may not have shown last year and I’m just going to do my best to adapt to them,” Burrow said.
One of the ways to rain on the rookie’s parade is to bring a lot of pressure and keep the coverage tight.
The Chargers are expected to incorporate more man coverage and blitz more often, looking to avoid being near the bottom in turnovers, like they did in 2019.
Los Angeles will be without star safety Derwin James, who is out with a knee injury. But the team has the reinforcements to still get the job done.
Bradley said they are planning to roll out multiple looks and packages on Sunday, adding that they are going to be cognizant of the players’ level of conditioning, and expects a lot of players to get on the field.